As the real estate market begins to recover, new research from the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a nonprofit education and research group, says the ""old normal"" will not be returning. According to a new study released by the organization, emerging trends in demographics and consumer behavior will become major drivers of new housing opportunities, resulting in a residential market vastly different from the one that existed prior to the recession.

As foreclosures continue to plague the nation, many at-risk homeowners are seeking help through home preservation events sponsored by the HOPE NOW alliance, the Obama administration's Making Home Affordable Program, and NeighborWorks America.

In an effort to recoup more than $2 billion paid for certificates backed by faulty mortgages, Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, one of 12 Federal Home Loan Banks in the United States, has sued six banks, according to a recent article on Nypost.com.

Deloitte announced Thursday that Robert O'Brien has been appointed to lead the company's U.S. real estate practice, and he has been elected as a vice chairman. He succeeds Dorothy Alpert, former practice leader, who has assumed the role of Northeast deputy regional managing partner.

In an announcement Thursday, Fiserv, Inc., a global provider of financial services technology solutions, said its clients can now update attorney communications via a new Loan Servicing Platform interface with the LenStar default attorney communications network offered by ISGN, a provider of mortgage technology and services.

Although government-approved programs and bailouts are in place for many sectors of the battered economy, the resources and solutions for property owners and investors in the heavily-distressed commercial real estate market are lacking. Help is available to commercial property owners, but it is not widely known about. As a result, commercial properties continue to face foreclosure, and commercial real estate is expected to remain a drag on the U.S. economy through 2010 and beyond.

In an announcement Wednesday, Ft. Worth, Texas-based Williams Trew Real Estate Services (WTRES) said it has spun off its property management division, Williams Trew Property Management, which will now be known as Bridge Residential Property Services, LLC.

Amid possible signs of stabilization within the commercial real estate market, many real estate executives say the road to recovery won't be easy. Concerns regarding the future of the commercial real estate market were reported by many industry insiders in the 1st quarter Sentiment Survey completed by the Real Estate Roundtable, which brings together leaders in the real estate industry to address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.

The four week streak of falling mortgage rates ended this week, according to surveys released Thursday by Freddie Mac and Bankrate. However, despite this slight increase, mortgage rates remain relatively stable and are notably lower than rates this time last year.

Following the completion of his tenure as CEO of Centro Properties Group, Glenn Rufrano will join Cushman & Wakefield as president and CEO, according to an announcement Tuesday by the company. As Cushman & Wakefield President and CEO, Rufrano replaces Bruce Mosler, who became co-chairman of the board on January 1, 2010. He will be based in New York and will also be appointed to the company's board of directors on his March 22, 2010 start date.